Pilot One

Pilot One
Genrevariety
Created byDavid Marsden
StarringLossen Chambers
Karen Campbell
Stephen Coulson
Jacques Lalonde
Paula Rempel
Martin Cummins
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11
Production
Production locationsVancouver, British Columbia
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseJanuary 13, 1989 (1989-01-13) –
April 1989 (1989-04)

Pilot One is a Canadian television variety series, which aired in 1989 on CBC Television.[1] A late-night series aimed at teenagers, the series mixed music, interviews, informational segments, commentary and comedy sketches.[2]

Created by David Marsden after his departure from CFNY-FM,[3] the series was originally planned to air five nights a week but was scaled back to a weekly series in advance of its premiere.[3] It was taped in a studio converted from warehouse space on the former Expo 86 site.[4]

The show's hosts were Lossen Chambers, Karen Campbell, Stephen Coulson, Jacques Lalonde, Paula Rempel and Martin Cummins.[3] Contributors to the program included punk musician Chris Houston as a writer,[5] and sex educator Sue Johansen as host of a sex and relationship advice segment.[1] The show's cancellation was announced on April 7, 1989 due to budgetary pressures at the CBC.[6] Despite the cancellation, the series was later sold to BBC Two in the United Kingdom, where it provided popular exposure to musical guests such as The Pursuit of Happiness and Sarah McLachlan.[4]

The series garnered a Gemini Award nomination for Best Variety Program or Series at the 4th Gemini Awards in 1989.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Teen TV show Pilot One not yet flying high". Toronto Star, January 20, 1989.
  2. ^ "Geminis make strange bedfellows of TV shows". Toronto Star, December 2, 1989.
  3. ^ a b c "Pilot One project scaled down by CBC". Vancouver Sun, October 18, 1988.
  4. ^ a b "Pilot One due for takeoff across Atlantic". Vancouver Sun, April 11, 1989.
  5. ^ "The Evil Twang's songs from the dark side". The Globe and Mail, June 16, 1990.
  6. ^ "Strike damage report on CBC-TV shows". Toronto Star, April 7, 1989.